BRISTOL, Tenn./Va. (WJHL) — Seventeen local businesses participated in downtown Bristol’s Entrepreneur’s Grant Competition on Tuesday night, and nine of them took home funds to build their businesses.

The contest is designed to provide a total of $50,000 in reimbursement grant funds to qualifying new or expanding downtown Bristol businesses to help ensure their long-term success.

Business owners underwent six weeks of intensive entrepreneur training, which all led up to pitches given in front of a panel of judges at Tuesday’s event. Nine of the participating businesses went home with grant funding ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

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Executive Director of Believe in Bristol Maggie Elliott told News Channel 11 that the contest aims to provide business owners a chance to gain resources and skills related to keeping their businesses successful.

“We know how hard it is to start a small business, and especially having resources to help them along the way,” she said. “So it’s not just about the grant funds. The six-week training program is really a huge part of this process. We want to make sure that our businesses are equipped with as many resources and skills as they possibly can [have].”

The winning businesses and amounts of grant funding received can be found below:

• Theatre Bristol: $10,000

• Platter & Pour: $10,000

• Family Tradition Tattoo Supply: $10,000

• Boho Collective: $5,000

• Bistro on 6th: $4,000

• Fina Florals: $3,500

• Audioasis: $3,500

• Union 41, Chef T: $2,500

• Winslow Savage Millinery: $1,500

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